Same ocean, same cause, same format - just one state up.

Reach the Beach, a staple of the Oregon cycling calendar, is expanding with the launch of Reach The Beach Washington on September 30.

Credit: Reach the Beach
The new ride, which like the original event benefits the American Lung Association, has four start locations -- again like the original -- all of which finish at salt water in Westport.

The replication of RTB Oregon is deliberate. "Everything we are doing is to align it with the Oregon event, four start locations, the same distances," said Brian Mayo, regional director of special events for the American Lung Association.

The full century is from Lacey, the 80-miler starts in Olympia, the half century runs from Elma and riders tackling 25 miles go from Cosmopolis.

It promises to be a very fast course. The century has only 1,400 feet of climbing and a net 200-foot fall from start to coast.

The Washington event was the brainchild of Allison Hickey, the new CEO of the Mountain Pacific region of the American Lung Association. She witnessed RTB Oregon in May and championed the new ride, explained Mayo.

The Oregon ride celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2014 and is the ALA's second biggest fundraiser nationwide raising around $800,000 annually. It is limited to 3,000 riders and sells out. The cap for the Washington event is 1,000 in 2017 with hopes that it will rise to 3,000 and mirror Oregon within a few years.

"We are maxed out in Oregon and we have a great following," said Mayo. "We get people from all over the country doing the Oregon ride, Washington is the second biggest state after Oregon."

Registration is open and 160 riders have already committed despite minimal marketing according to Mayo.

"There is a lot of interest due to the success of the Oregon event."

With RTB Oregon in May and RTB Washington at the end of September Mayo hopes to establish the events as bookends to the region's cycling season.

 "We are hoping to build something for years to come. Oregon has been around for 27 years and one day when I am retired I hope I can look at the Washington event and say I was there at the start."

Cost is $25 through April, $35 for May and June, $45 in July and August, and then $55. All riders are required to raise a minimum of $125 in tax-deductible contributions prior to the ride.

The Finish of RTB Oregon. Credit: Reach the Beach
The ride will shuttle riders back to their start point for $40 with bikes transported by truck.

The American Lung Association is the oldest voluntary health agency in the nation. It began a century ago working for cures for tuberculosis. Today it is dedicated to preventing and curing lung disease and promoting lung health through research, advocacy and services for those with asthma and other lung disease.

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